Effects of cannabis oil on cannabinoid-induced tetrad, blood pressure, and metabolic parameters in an experimental model of Metabolic Syndrome

Abstract

Objective: The aim of the present study was to analyse the effects of cannabis oil on cannabinoid-inducedtetrad, blood pressure, and metabolic parameters in rats normal fed a sucrose-rich diet (SRD).Methods: Male Wistar rats were fed the following diets for 21 days: Reference Diet (RD): standardcommercial laboratory diet, SRD and SRD+Cannabis oil (SRD+Ca): the oral administration of 1 mg/kg ofbody weight of cannabis oil daily. Cannabis oil present a total cannabinoids CBD:THC 2:1 ratio. Duringthe experimental period, body weight, food intake, blood pressure, body temperature, locomotion, catalepsyand analgesia were evaluated. At the end of the experimental period, levels of glucose, triglycerides,cholesterol, uric acid, AST, ALT and AP in serum were evaluated. In liver were determined AST, ALT andAP enzymes and triglycerides and cholesterol content.Results: A cannabis oil administration significantly increased (P<0.05) analgesia, and locomotion was alsosignificantly decreased, which was found to be increased in the SRD group. Systolic and diastolic bloodpressure decreased during the experiment. In the SRD+Ca group, serum triglycerides and cholesterol levelssignificantly decreased, reaching values similar to RD group, without changes in glucose levels. In addition,serum uric acid and AP levels significantly decreased, although did not obtain reference values. AST andALT levels in serum and liver significantly decreased, reaching reference values. At the liver, thetriglycerides and cholesterol content significantly decreased with the administration of cannabis oil,although not reaching to reference values.Conclusions: Our results suggest that cannabis oil could be useful as a therapeutic strategy to prevent someof the alterations present in Metabolic Syndrome, including hypertension, dyslipidemia and liver damage.In addition, the analgesic effect of cannabis oil could be observed in SRD-fed rats.